Francis Salvador, nicknamed the Paul Revere of the
Southern colonies, was the first Jewish American Patriot killed during
the Revolutionary War. Salvador was born into the aristocracy in London
England in 1747. His grandfather was on the board of the East India
company, most noted for shipping Tea to America. In 1773, Salvador moved
to South Carolina, and bought him a 7000 acre plantation, with his
grandfather's help.
In 1774 Salvador entered Sc politics, and became a member of the SC
Provincial Congress. In 1775, Salvador helped draft South
Carolina's Bill of Rights, developed a method of paying Sc militia
soldiers for their duty,and in November 1775, instructed the Sc
delegation at Philadelphia,PA to vote for Independence when the vote
came up.
In 1776, Salvador joined the Sc Militia.On July 1, 1776, Salvador
became the Paul Revere of The Southern Colonies when he rode over 30
miles warning settlers of an imminent attack by the Cherokee at the
start of the Cherokee wars.. On July 15,1776, Salvador participated in
the battle of lindley Fort, while under the command of Major Jonathan
Downs where the Patriots defeated a large band of Cherokee.
On August 1, 1776, Salavador and his militia under his command was
ambushed by the cherokee at Keowee Sc, where Salvador was shot 3 times
by the Cherokee,and died later that day at 2:00 pm in the afternoon. On
August 4, a letter was read before the Sc Provincial Congress detailing
the ambush and the death of Francis Salvador. SAlvador was buried at
his Plantation home near Charleston Sc.